As Renee’s mind struggled to regain consciousness, the one thing that it didn’t fight against was the soothing sensation of someone combing her hair and the warm pillow that she had her cheek against. She breathed in. God she loved that smell. Citrus and soap and man. It reminded her of something, if she could only figure out what.

“Renee.” Her warm pillow spoke. “Renee.”

She came to with a start, jerking upright, struggling to remember where she was. The hospital. David’s accident. The surgery.

“Hey.” Marcus’s voice was soft and she realized it was him she’d been sleeping on.

“Hi,” she mumbled, wondering exactly how tangled her hair was and whether he could smell her morning breath from a mere twelve inches away.

He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear, watching her carefully. “How are you feeling this morning?”

She looked around, her eyes landing on David silent as a ghost in the big hospital bed. She swallowed down the bile that rose in her throat and lied.

“I’m fine, but how is he?”

“He hasn’t woken up yet if that’s what you’re asking.”

“Have any doctors been by to check on him?”

“No, nurses have though,” Marcus said, standing and stretching, rolling his neck back and forth in a way that was so sexy Renee wanted lick him up one side and down the other. Maybe someday. When her entire family wasn’t standing at the doorway to death.

“I’ll go find someone. See if they can tell us anything more,” she said, also standing.

“No, no. Let me. You stay here with David. If he wakes up he’ll want to see a familiar face. I’ll get a doctor sent in and also grab us some breakfast at the cafeteria. Anything you don’t eat?”

“No. And you don’t have to go to all that trouble.”

“Hey,” he leaned down to look her in the eyes, “I told you I’m here for the duration. When you go home, then I go home, but not until.”

She felt her gut go all wavy like it did every time Marcus looked at her like this. The man was her kryptonite if she could be turned on by a simple look at the bedside of her critically injured brother. God, she should be ashamed of herself.

“Thank you.” She tried to smile, and he left, looking every bit as fresh and sexy as he had the night before. She, on the other hand, was rumpled to hell and back.

“Oh, David,” she said as she approached his bed. “What are we ever going to do about the mess we’re in now?”

---

It took two hours before the doctors were able to sit down and talk to Renee. When they did, the news wasn’t much. David was still unconscious. They’d repaired the bleed, and the pressure in his brain was being monitored. All anyone could do was wait for him to wake up.

“Well, it looks like I’m in for some more waiting,” Renee said after the doctors left. She looked at the clock on the wall. It was nearly nine and her mother would be waking up soon. Renee needed to get home and try to explain what had happened to David. As if she could ever explain to their mother how she’d let something like this occur.

Marcus sipped his cup of coffee and nodded. “Are you ready to go home and get a change of clothes? I can stay here with him if you’d like.”

She shook her head, wondering how someone she hardly knew could be so kind. Here was this man—this beautiful, talented, kind man—and he was being supportive and all too appealing, and she couldn’t rely on that, couldn’t rely on him. Not only was she in no position to have a relationship, but she needed her job more than she needed a shoulder to cry on—or sleep on as the case might be. No, Marcus Ambrose could be kind all day and all night, but Renee had to get on with her life. Her lonely life, but the only life that she was allowed.

“I really can’t let you spend any more time here. David’s my problem. I’ll handle it,” she said briskly, her chest aching at the tone.

Marcus’s brow furrowed. “I thought we went over this? I’ll stay as long as you need me.”

“But I don’t. Need you, I mean. I can’t thank you and Derek enough for everything you did. The transfer to this hospital, sending the car to pick me up, staying all night with me. You’ve done more than enough, and I really can handle it from here. I’m used to doctors and taking care of people. I’ll be fine. I promise.”

She pasted on a smile that was designed to stop any more questions or doubts he might have, but she could see him wavering. “The last thing you could do though is to get me a cab? I’m going to go home so I can explain what’s happened to my mother, and grab my car.”

Marcus’s lips were locked in a tight line, and he was obviously not happy with the direction she was taking things.

“I really think—”

“No.” Her word was downright sharp this time, so she tried to gentle her tone. “Really. You’ve done enough. I’m fine.”

He exhaled, shook his head slightly, then turned and walked to the door. Without looking back he muttered, “One cab coming up.”

“Thank you,” she called as he strode out of the room and she truly was alone again.

---

As he climbed into bed the night after David’s accident, Marcus realized that he had a decision to make. Was he going to continue to pursue Renee or simply let her be? A part of him said that if he really cared he’d leave her alone. Walk away and give her the peace she so obviously needed in her life. She was under pressure from all sides—family, job, finances. But another part, the part that Derek had trained, said to never give up. If there was something you wanted, you went after it—hard. Whether it was a woman, a job, or that really great Georgetown brownstone Derek had picked up a few years back.

He lay in the darkness and thought about her silky hair and lush lips, the cute way she giggled when she’d had a few too many shots of tequila, the look in her eyes when she watched her brother lying prone in his hospital bed. “Dammit,” he muttered as he punched his pillow and rolled to his back, his hand automatically going to his hardened cock.

As he slowly stroked himself he thought about his life in the last decade. He considered himself an expert in three things—politics, media, and women. It was the last one that told him to pause before he let this thing with Renee go. Because in all his many moments with the opposite sex, never had he felt this way, and never had he met anyone like her. He couldn’t think of another woman he knew who could handle the pressures she had at her age. And to do it with the grace and compassion that she showed—that was a really damn special combination.

His breathing increased as his hand stroked faster and harder. He let his mind go blank, simply feeling—her silken hair, her smooth skin, her plush lips. His back arched as he groaned with a release more powerful than he normally had with a real live partner present. “Fuck,” he whispered in the dark. He knew then, he couldn’t do it. No matter what might be easiest for Renee, he couldn’t walk away now. In fact, he was starting to think that he’d never be able to walk away.

---

Marcus quickly discovered that pursuing Renee was going to continue to be a challenge. Derek had given her the rest of the week off and half days off for the following week. By the time she came into the office at noon on those half days, it was nearly time for Marcus to go to work, so he hadn’t managed to stop by at the right time to see her. He’d tried texting and calling, and every time he’d gotten voicemail, or a terse message back saying that she was fine and David’s condition was improving. When David finally woke up, it was Derek who called him, not Renee.

But three weeks later, on a rare day off, he walked by his brother’s office building and saw the one blonde he couldn’t stop thinking about standing outside the front doors.

“Hi,” he said, grinning as he approached her, his outlook on the day instantly becoming brighter.

Her cheeks turned pink and his heart did that flipping thing that felt so painful, but so right.

“Marcus. How are you?”

“Better now.” He smiled, and she rolled her eyes. “Are you heading home?”

“Yes. They sent David to a rehab facility today, so I can actually go home instead of to the hospital.”

He leaned down and picked up her laptop case, gesturing for her to lead the way to her car.

“And how is he doing? Will he make a full recovery?”

She smiled and her face lit up the dusky street around them. “He should. Derek was so right about his age and how fast he’d heal. The doctors are amazed at his progress.”

“And what about the accident?” Marcus tread carefully, not wanting to upset her when she was obviously feeling so happy. “Will there be any legal or financial issues from that?”

Renee sighed and pursed her lips. “Even though it was David’s car, he wasn’t driving, thank God. So, our insurance company says that we can’t be held liable. His friend is probably going to jail though. They were all high and drunk.” She shivered in the autumn air, as if someone had walked over her grave.

Marcus reached out and touched her arm. It was a whisper of a touch through jackets and sleeves, but he felt it, down to his very center, and he knew he’d do anything to have more. He looked around, desperate for any excuse to keep her near beyond the short walk to her car.

He spied an Irish pub ahead. “I think all of this good news calls for a celebration. Will you grab a pint and maybe a burger with me?” He gestured at the neon sign now only a few steps away.

He saw her fighting with herself, debating whether she could take the chance or not. She even darted her eyes around the street, as if someone might see them and tell Derek.

“Hey,” he said gently. “No ulterior motive, really. I was there when they pulled him out of that wreck and I feel like I want to celebrate that he’s going to be okay. You seem like the most logical person to do that with.”

She laughed, her voice soft in the darkening night around them. “Okay, you win. But I can’t stay long, my mother’s feeling pretty well this week, but I do like to check in on her before she goes to bed.”

“You got it.” He grinned and opened the door for them to go inside. He felt a surge of triumph. His day was looking up.

---

An hour and a half later, Marcus had managed to get Renee to eat fish and chips, drink a pint, and play several games of darts. Her eyes were sparkling, her cheeks were rosy, and he was more infatuated than ever. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d enjoyed being with a woman so much.

“You’re a darts shark,” he said, shaking a finger at her as she clapped her hands and took his five-dollar bill off the table.

“What in the world is a ‘darts shark’ anyway?” she asked, pulling the rest of her winnings out of her pocket and adding the fiver to the pile.

“Like a card shark but with darts. You tricked me into thinking you didn’t know how to play.”

“No, you assumed because I’m a woman that I didn’t know how to play. I never said a word about it.”

He huffed, playing up his wounded pride for effect. The fact was, she could play darts well, but he’d virtually majored in it in college, and he’d let her win. The first point she’d gotten she’d been so excited he hadn’t had the heart to beat her. And he had to admit that every time she jumped up and down in triumph he got a show as her gorgeous breasts bounced in the tight sweater she was wearing. It was a win-win in his mind, and well worth the twenty bucks he’d lost.

“Well, my pride is wounded, so you’re going to have to drink another pint with me to make up for it or I’ll be pouty for days.”

“Awww.” She patted his cheek. “Poor baby. I’ll watch you drink one, how’s that? I still have to drive my car home, so no more alcohol for me.”

“Fine. Do you want a soda or something?”

“Nope. I’m going to hit the ladies room while you order. I’ll meet you back here.”

Marcus made his way through the tables and post-work business crowd to the bar where he placed his order and waited. He was watching the sports channel on the TV hanging over the bar when a throaty voice and warm breath filled his ear.

“Well, look at this, it’s my favorite WNN golden boy. Are you here alone, sailor?”

He turned to find Trish Anders batting her false eyelashes at him.

“Hey, Trish. What are you doing here?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same question. You have the night off? Or did your photog go AWOL?”

“Nope. Night off.”

She ran a hand up his arm, and draped it over his shoulder, cocking one hip out and licking her lips at the same time. “Now isn’t that a beautiful coincidence? I’ve got the morning off tomorrow. Which means I get to sleep in. Want to join me?”

Marcus nearly choked on the fresh beer the bartender had handed him. He set the beer down and rubbed a hand across his mouth. “Well, don’t beat around the bush.”

“Oh please. A guy like you? I’ve heard about your reputation. Marcus Ambrose and his full court press. You left a trail of broken hearts from Philly to D.C. But see, I’m exactly what you need. I don’t have a heart for you to break.”

Marcus chuckled as she pressed her other hand against his chest and rubbed up against him.

“But I also have an amazing rack, a California king bed, and some silk tie ups that’ll knock your socks off. Come on golden boy, make the station’s golden girl scream your name tonight.”

“Uh, Marcus? May I have my keys? I really need to get going.”

Marcus turned to see Renee standing two feet away, staring at he and Trish, her beautiful face awash in hurt and confusion.

He tried to turn to her, but Trish kept him pinned, clutching at his shirt like her life depended on it.

“Are you going to introduce me to your friend?” Trish purred.

“Keys?” Renee persisted.

Marcus swallowed, frozen like an idiot, unable to think and barely able to move. He reached into his pocket, and the second he had the keys free, Renee snatched them from his hand and turned on her heel.

“Renee!” he called, disentangling himself from Trish finally.

“Marcus? Are you going to leave me standing here?” Trish asked.

“Sorry,” he said, looking back at her. “It’s not going to happen. You’re wasting your time.”

By the time he’d fought his way through the bodies and tables of the pub, Renee had left. He burst outside into the crisp fall air, not even noticing the chill as he frantically looked first left and then right trying to see where she’d gone. When he finally spotted her slight frame practically running down the sidewalk and turning onto 7th Street, he took off, weaving in and out of groups of people, and dodging the occasional parked car. He rounded the corner in pursuit and saw her as she entered a parking structure.

He followed her into the structure in the nick of time to see the elevator doors close with her inside.

“Dammit!” he shouted into the concrete walls. He watched the lights on the elevator flash until they stopped on four, then he turned and ran to the stairs, taking them two at a time until he reached the fourth floor and exploded through the door from the stairwell. Renee was a few feet away, standing near the elevator, looking lost and a little bit fragile.

“You waited,” he said, struggling to catch his breath as he approached her slowly.

“You chased me,” she answered.

“Why did you leave?”

Her eyes darted around, as if she couldn’t bear to look at him while she talked.

“It looked like you were pretty busy, I didn’t want to interrupt your plans for the rest of the evening.”

He reached out and she jerked away. “Renee.” His voice was low and rough, and pleading. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

She laughed bitterly. “It never is.” She paused. “But even if it was, it can’t matter to me. We celebrated David’s recovery—thank you for that by the way—and now it’s time for me to go. That’s all.”

Marcus looked at her sternly. He couldn’t stand a lie. Not from her. Not about this. “That’s not all, and you know it.”

She got the deer-in-the-headlights look again and her tongue slipped out to lick her bottom lip. He took a step closer, unable to control his need to be near her.

“I had a really great time with you tonight.”

She nodded. “I had a nice time too.”

He stepped closer again, and saw her tense, but he didn’t care. This was his chance, and he wasn’t going to lose it. Not for Trish, not for Derek, not for anything.

“I didn’t want the night to end.” He touched the ends of her hair and he swore under his breath as he heard her sigh, her eyes fluttering closed for a brief moment.

“You know what they say,” she told him, her voice breathy. “All good things must come to an end.”

“It wouldn’t have if Trish hadn’t shown up.”

“It wasn’t because of that—”

“Stop,” he commanded, his tone sounding so much like his brother’s it shocked him for a moment. He gentled his next words. “Don’t lie, not about this. Trish is nothing. She’s some woman who works at the same place I do and I have absolutely no interest in her.”

Renee swayed toward him and he caught a tendril of her scent—lavender and honey. It made his mouth water.

“It’s none of my business if you do,” she whispered unconvincingly.

“It is if I want it to be—and I do. I want you. I always have, and I think you want me too.”

She shook her head slowly. “It doesn’t matter if I do. I can’t have you.”

“Sshh.” He placed a finger over her gorgeous lips. “Stop talking,” he whispered, as he leaned in and kissed her smooth satiny cheek. “Just feel for a little while.” He nipped at her earlobe and heard her tiny moan. His dick hardened painfully.

Her delicate hands came up to the front of his shirt and her palms flattened against his chest. He licked her neck before lifting his head to look into her hazy eyes. Then he brought his mouth over hers and touched her lips. Heaven.

She tasted like cherry and cola and the future. He wrapped his lips around her plump flesh and wove his tongue into her mouth, pressing her back against the concrete wall as he fisted one hand in her golden locks and let the other wander up from the curve of her waist to palm her breast.

She moaned again and pressed closer to him, rubbing against his hard on until he was throbbing with want.

Their tongues tangled, and their breath came fast and hard, her hands stroking his chest and his abs through his dress shirt while his thumb caressed the curve of her round, firm breast.

He growled and put his hands on either side of her head, devouring her mouth, then her neck, and down to the v-neck of her sweater.

“God, you’re so beautiful,” he panted. “I’ve wanted you since the moment I laid eyes on you bending over your files at work.”

The moment the words left his mouth he knew he’d fucked up. Of all the stupid things to say when he finally had her where he wanted her.

What. An. Idiot.

She shoved at his chest, pushing him away, panting like she’d run a marathon.

“Oh my God. What the hell are we doing?” she gasped.

He ran a hand through his hair and stared at her, afraid to move. “I think it was pretty obvious,” he answered, trying to make his voice light.

“That. Was a mistake. A huge mistake. Oh my God.” She pulled her keys out of her pocket, hands visibly shaking, and bent to pick up her laptop case. “It’s one thing to slip up when I’m drunk, but not like this. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I let that happen.”

“I’m not,” he growled, frustration pouring through him.

“Please don’t tell Derek.” She looked at him with terror in her eyes.

“Jesus. What kind of guy do you think I am? I’m not trying to get you fired, Renee. I’m kind of crazy about you in case you hadn’t noticed.”

Her face softened before she put a hand on his cheek, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“It’ll pass. It’s the chase you love. As soon as you caught me you wouldn’t want me anymore, and there I’d be—unemployed and broken-hearted. It’ll pass.”

He shook his head. “No. It’s not like that,” he whispered, his heart aching so hard he wanted to clutch it and tear it out of his chest to stop the pain.

“It’s always like that,” she answered before she stepped around him and walked to her car.

As he watched her drive away, all he could think was that it had always been like that, but it would never be like that again.